US Releases Further $205 Million in Ukraine Aid

The United States on Friday announced a further $205 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine to help the country with shortages of food, drinking water and other needs as its fights against Russia's invasion.

The aid, which will be distributed via partner NGOs in the region, was also aimed at helping victims of the conflict maintain contact with family members who have been separated, top US diplomat Antony Blinken said in a statement.

"We continue to call for an immediate end to Russia's war of aggression and for Russia to facilitate unhindered access to providers of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine and safe passage for those who seek to move to safer areas," Blinken said.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, more than six million people have fled the country and more than five million have been internally displaced, according to the US State Department.

The United States has provided more than $2 billion in humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the war started, the statement said.

And it has released nearly $40 billion in military aid to Ukraine to strengthen its defenses against occupying Russian forces in parts of the country's east and south.